The Libyan rebels have failed to gain official recognition from the U.S. government. A top rebel official was even denied a meeting with Barack Obama in Washington on Friday. Mahmoud Jibril is the first senior member of Libya’s National Transitional Council to visit the U.S. After meeting American officials, Jibril said the rebels are having trouble getting Washington to release Colonel Gaddafi’s frozen assets.

The administration had earlier promised to hand over some of the multi-billion dollar funds to the Libyan opposition. Journalist Patrick Hayes says the rebel allegiance with the West is only alienating Libyans.